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Don Ense

Donald Orion Henry Ense, artist, illustrator, poet (b at Mindemoya, Manitoulin I, Ont 17 May 1953). An early member of the Manitoulin group of native painters, he found his theme in the teachings of the Anishabec (Ojibwa) and genre paintings of reserve life.

Ense, Donald Orion Henry

Donald Orion Henry Ense, artist, illustrator, poet (b at Mindemoya, Manitoulin I, Ont 17 May 1953). An early member of the Manitoulin group of native painters, he found his theme in the teachings of the Anishabec (Ojibwa) and genre paintings of reserve life. His style reflects the 2-dimensionality of the pictographic native style plus some postimpressionistic influences; he paints in a simplified realistic manner with black form line and areas filled in flat colour. He has great narrative ability and is an excellent illustrator.

Suggested Reading

Mary E. Southcott, The Sound of the Drum: The Sacred Art of the Anishabec (1984).